Is wheel alignment and wheel balancing necessary?
Wheel alignment and wheel balancing are separate services, but they are commonly confused. Both of them are important and necessary for enhancing the life and performance of your tires. Wheel balancing should be performed more frequently, while a wheel alignment should not be needed as often.
Can tires be balanced on the car?
Tires are initially balanced when they are mounted on your vehicle, but periodic re-balancing is necessary. A tire alignment is not the same thing as tire balancing.
How long does an alignment take?
Under normal circumstances, a wheel alignment will take an average of one hour, whether it’s a two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle. If there’s too much wear and tear or damage on the suspension system, steering bushing, track rod, or other parts, it’ll take a longer time as some components have to be replaced.
What’s the difference between wheel alignment and tire balancing?
Tire balancing (or wheel balancing) and tire alignment are two different services that can fix inconsistencies your vehicle develops over time. Tire balancing corrects an unevenness in your tires, which is commonly caused over time by tread wear.
Why do you need a wheel alignment service?
A wheel alignment adjusts your vehicle’s suspension – not the tires or wheels themselves — to impact the angles at which your tires make contact with the road. This helps to ensure proper tread wear and precise steering.
What do you need to know about tire balance?
During a tire balance service, your tires and wheels are mounted onto a tire balancing machine. The machine spins the tire and wheel assembly to measure the imbalance, so that a technician can precisely install the correct tire weights to achieve a properly balanced wheel and tire assembly.
How is wheel alignment done on a BMW?
Performing this service regularly (yearly or after the vehicle starts drifting) will extend the life of your tires. Alignment is measured in degrees of camber (tire leaning inward or outward), caster (forward or backward slope of steering components in relation to the McPherson struts) and toe (the direction the tires are pointing).